MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR
Leadership reflections

I am currently going through a leadership discovery course. It's not an information workshop; it's one that helps you reflect, especially as a church leader, on first and second order activities.

First order activities are what you do that bring you close to God for the sake of your own soul and spirit. God wants to have fellowship with us, and he invites us to do the same with him without any agendas. This is best exemplified by Jesus’s answer to a teacher of the law who asked, “What is the greatest commandment?”

Jesus replied;

It is not a mistake that the first four loves that Jesus mentions are about loving God. We love him with heart, soul, mind and strength. God is more interested in your soul than what you do for him.

Second order activities are what flow from our love for Christ. Our love for Christ gives us an authentic love for the world. This is where the “love your neighbour” activities come in. Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for our neighbour. When you have sorted the first order stuff, such as time, silence and meditation with God, then the second order stuff comes naturally because it comes from the heart of God.

One of the activities that has been helpful in this exercise is to think about a picture that you have which illustrates your relationship with God. This can range from anything. A father holding a child to someone clinging on for dear life. This week, I encourage you to think of a picture that you feel illustrates your life with God and why it is important.

I share all this because deep in my heart, my prayer is that all of us are deeply connected to God, know who God is, and know the deep, true, unconditional love of God in their life. The first order devotion is the most important thing.

The second reason I share this is because the rest of the newsletter is about second order business, which I will expand on below…

CHURCH SUNDAYS

Women of Power

We will be hearing from two wonderful ladies, Vernie and Alice, this Sunday. They will be reflecting on faith, motherhood and “God moments in their life”.

Please pray for them as they prepare. 

COMMUNITY

The future of HCC and feedback Sundays

For a while now, we have been pondering as a leadership group about structural changes in the church and what that looks like.

When we started HCC, we were just following the Lord's call and moving slowly in the steps that he ordered. We are now five years old, and we have grown, both numerically and in depth. This means that some of what we have had as structures and systems is outdated and needs a revamp.

I would like to say from the onset that as the pastor of HCC, I have always felt loved and supported. The congregation has always answered any calls, from giving generously to offering time and capacity in the various departments and volunteer roles. The Elders have maintained a posture of humility and grace, even when the future has looked uncertain.

I strongly sense that God wants us to reposition ourselves so that we are able to grow in the next stage. However, this responsibility does not fall on me as the pastor only. As I have shared with some of you, I have done an audit of my life recently, and if I am not careful, I will burn out before this year ends. I am no good to both my families, Anna and Jabari, who are my first point of ministry, and the church family that I love so much.

Additionally, if we stay as we are, we will become a stagnant church, and we will not fulfil God’s mission in our lives. There are big decisions we need to make, including our permanent venue. Seven Oaks may not be available in the near future.

To this end, the next two Sundays, 18th and 25th, will be designated as feedback Sundays. During conversation time, we will have a chance to give feedback regarding the running of HCC. On the 8th of June, we will have a shared lunch/meeting after church to discuss what comes up.

This helps the elders and the strategic team to pray and plan for the future. Here is the breakdown.

Thank you all for your support and prayers,

Mato